Geneva 2018 had the usual collection of hypercars, although many of them are powered by the energy stored in batteries rather than in petrol tanks. Robotic taxis were there too with Volkswagen cheekily painting its already seen SEDRIC in the colours typical of a US schoolbus. Why then for a show rich in electric vehicle world premieres were so many of them overshadowed by new petrol and diesel models?

We caught up with Antonino Labate, director of strategy, business development and operations at Cupra, Seat's newly spun off performance-minded sister brand. He discusses the genesis of the brand, the thinking behind launching with an SUV and how Cupra could develop in the future.

The Geneva show has traditionally been seen as the European motoring industry's foremost new car showcase. While the 2018 event is similar to previous years – the rotating car platforms and strobe-lit press conferences remain – there's a growing sense that great changes are afoot. As Ken Ramirez, Nissan's head of sales and marketing observed – the kinds of questions being asked now simply didn't exist 10 years ago.

South Korean brand Ssangyong is upping its game with the launch of a vastly improved and more sophisticated Rexton SUV and will make a technology leap in two years time with the launch of an all electric, fully off road capable model based on the Korando.

Fiat Chrysler chief Sergio Marchionne is never short of a few words for the press, in an hour long round table in Geneva he covered a multitude of bases from the performance of the brands, steel tariffs in the US, the Chinese, diesel engines, new technologies and even his own plans once he steps down from his role.

Aston Martin has presented its Lagonda Vision Concept, which it says heralds the beginning of a new range of emission-free luxury vehicles under the Lagonda brand. Production is planned to start in 2021.

Goodyear has showcased what it describes as an intelligent tyre prototype - a complete tyre information system that includes a tyre, sensors and cloud-based algorithms that all work together 'to communicate in real-time with fleet operators via a mobile app'.

Bernhard Mattes, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), has reiterated that the German auto industry prefers software updates to hardware retrofits of emission control technologies, as a way to clean up diesel emissions and improve air quality.

Will there be one stand-out car at this year's Geneva show? Already, many are jostling to take the title. The list includes the Mercedes A-Class, EQC and AMG GT Coupe; Audi A6; McLaren Senna; Hyundai Kona EV; Jaguar I-Pace; Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion; Volvo V60; Skoda Vision X; and let's not forget the Corbellati Missile, claimed to be powered by an 1800PS 9.0-litre V8.

The new Kia Ceed (note name subtly changed from predecessor cee'd) will enter production in Q2 2018 at Kia’s Žilina manufacturing facility in Slovakia. Kia is aiming to boost its annual European sales to 500,000 units in the medium term, boosted by the Ceed product which is aimed squarely at European drivers in the C-segment.